Philippines' president accuses MNCs

Multinational pharmaceutical companies have been accused by thePhilippines' President, Joseph Estrada, of lobbying and pressuring Trade Secretary Mar Roxas and Health Secretary Alberto Romualdez.

The two cabinet ministers, who are responsible for bringing down the cost of medicines, refused the offers, according to a story by Agence France Presse. Pres Estrada would not name the companies involved, it adds.

In February, the two ministers were asked to discuss with the multinational drug companies how to lower the cost of medicines, which Mr Estrada said were several times higher than in other Asian countries (Marketletters passim). At that time, the government also accused drug companies of ignoring and getting around a law requiring doctors to prescribe generic medicines rather than branded products, said the AFP, noting that the ministers have now agreed to import cheaper drugs made in India.